How To Survive Love

3 - New

Fall of 1928 - Schöneberg

My journey from Dresden to Schöneberg was at best unbearable. Smoke heavily tainted the air so much, I had to keep my scarf wrapped around my nose to prevent coughing and weezing, unlike the poor man on the street corner staring at me with his beady eyes, begging for food. I had to let down many offers, including a 'one special night to sleep with a princess' or a 'lovely taste of a beautiful woman', as they were pretty odd and hard for me to decifer. As poor as my family was, I had never encountered people that were so underprivileged and dirty, with their children huddled in their thin coats as they shared remnants of someone else's meal. It was appaling and disheartening, and I was greatful for mostly riding in trains where I didn't find this to that degree.

Once in Schöneberg, I had felt uneasy. It had pictured all my fantasies quite well, but in a less subtle and more dramatic fashion. Just around the corner, I layed my eyes on a scene of two men in a warm embrace while sending messages of love and endearment, resting on each other's shoulder. Then to fullfill the cake by adding a whip of icing, one of them pecked the other on their cheek lightly, saying goodbye. I blushed uncontrolably, scrambling to escape so they couldn't detect my eavesdropping. I didn't want them to think I was studying their every move just for pleasure like a petvert. I was just curious to see others like me.

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While I entered my uncle's apartment, I kicked my shoes off, muddy and gross, and placed them neatly outside the door. Awaiting was a hot cup of tea and my uncle as he read silently, flipping the newspaper pages at a rate unreasonbly too quick to even scan the information.

"How is that newspaper? Is it enticing?" I asked, while scratching my head puzzled.

"It was until I started reading it. Politics never interested me," he turned around, facing me, "So how was the trip? Was it fun?"

"It was........fun." I began to recollect all the things I experienced. Some interesting, others uncanny.

"Great. Well, Hans is coming back shortly. In about ten minutes, we should start preparing for dinner. Let's get a few things ready in the kitchen." My uncle led me into the kitchen, instructing me to get a couple ingredients from the cabinet. But my shortness limited me vastly, so I had to rely on the nearest chair for assistance. I grabbed the salt and pepper and handed it over to him.

As I was getting down from the chair, my back aching from the awkward position, I left the kitchen to go and greet Hans. But as I turned, I stumbled upon another scene, this time my uncle and his partner kissing ardently, filled with all the passion and affection I could ever dream of. I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach in the most uncomfortable state as I sprinted to the nearest isolated spot, concealing myself in a closet. But after a few moments, Hans caught me shrouded while I was blushing and shaking nervously as my head drooped down to the rugged carpet below me. Softly, he caressed my head back and forth, attempting to comfort me. Eventually, it did work.

"Are you fine now?" He looked at me concerned.

I nodded my head like a little child.

"Well, my name is Hans Leut," I began to crawl out of the closet slowly, "What is yours?"

"I am Friedrich Häten."

He smiled warmly and pulled out his hand. "Welcome, Friedrich."

I grinned sweetly like a baby with chocolate.

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At the dinner table, I was enjoying my first meal in Schöneberg, along with my uncle and Hans. The food couldn't be classified as spectacular, but it was savory enough for me to enjoy every bite I took, and was too good to even rival the meals back home.

A little bored, I wanted to spark up the atmosphere by asking a couple questions.

"So how long have you two been together? You seem very invested in each other."

Jubilant, my uncle began, "Next month will mark our seventh year together. I am really excited."

"Yeah, we have been together for a long time," Hans added, "When I was younger, I never knew that I would be committed to a person for so long, especially a man."

"Suprises happen, I guess." I said while drinking a warm cup of tea, which ended my dinner fittingly.

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I woke up to the sound of hollering. I almost mistook it for the thunder bellowing through the clouds, as they were angry and viscous, but even that sound was muffled under the shouts of infuriation.

I hastily climbed out of bed to investigate the issue, and glued my ear to the wall, hearing closely.

Too much had been uncovered.